Top Southland play in NZ tour

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A Southland play has been recognised as one of the top acts in the country.

Arts on Tour NZ, which provides funding for local shows to perform in New Zealand centres, has selected A Cry Too Far From Heaven as one of 10 productions to showcase throughout the country next year.

Written by Jade Gillies, Angela Newell and Lizzie Dawson, the play has also been nominated for awards in several arts and dramatic festivals since it premiered in 2012.

Co-playwright Angela Newell said the play, featuring Winton "baby farmer" Minnie Dean and World War I deserter Victor Spencer on the eve of their execution, had been shown at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Wellington Fringe Festival, where Arts on Tour noticed it.

She believed it could be the first Southland production to be chosen for an Arts on Tour slot, and would be performed in 21 centres between March 2 and 28.

Although facing quite a hectic schedule across the month, the team was excited about taking their work around the country, Ms Newell said.

"We're looking forward to being on the road and doing what we love."

The Arts on Tour NZ A Cry Too Far From Heaven season will visit Invercargill, Stewart Island, Queenstown, Cromwell, Owaka and Gore during its March 2014 tour.